Introduction to the Blind Print Exchange

[hpulley]

PLEASE READ THIS VERY CAREFULLY BEFORE SIGNING UP FOR THE BLIND PRINT EXCHANGE (BPX)

NEW MINIMUM POST REQUIREMENT
This is an open exchange and all printers are welcome. However, I think it should be something special for members here on APUG that participate. Therefore, there is a minimum requirement of 30 posts by members in order to qualify to particpate in the Blind Print Exchange. We have had great exchanges in the past and I do not foresee problems in the future. If you do not have the required post count, please wait until you do. We will welcome you into the exchange at that time. For those who have less than the required posts but have participated in the past you will, of course, be grandfathered into future rounds.

ALSO...

We are going to a six month round length to give folks more time to get prints out and for me to not seem so overbearing at times. This allows the relaxation period to be, well, relaxing for all. This also makes things easier during holidays.

For those that don't know what the Blind Exchange is, here's a brief explanation:

1. People sign up to become "particpants" during the signup month via PM to the organizer (me).
2. Particpants PM me their full name and mailing address.
3. Organizer arranges so that every particpant sends one or more print(s) to one other particpant. Likewise, all participants will receive a print(s) from a different participant than the one to whom they sent.
4. It's 'blind' because the particpants do not know who will be sending them a print
5. When you send/receive, please post immediately on the status thread so that the organizer can more easily keep track of overall progress. Et voila. You're done.

CURRENT ROUND

Round 15
Signup: January 2012 (ending 31 January 2012 at 23:59 EST)
Print and Send: February, March, April and May 2012
Rest and Relaxation: June 2012

UPCOMING ROUNDS

Round 16
Signup: July 2012 (ending 31 July 2012 at 23:59 EDT)
Print and Send: August, September and October 2012
Rest and Relaxation: November and December 2012

Round 17
Signup: January 2013 (ending 31 January 2013 at 23:59 EST)
Print and Send: February, March and April 2013
Rest and Relaxation: May and June 2013

Round 18: July 2013 (ending 31 July 2013 at 23:59 EDT)
Print and Send: August, September and October 2013
Rest and Relaxation: November and December 2013

COMMUNICATION IS KEY!

Please post immediately in the status thread upon either sending or receiving prints. I really need to know and doing so would be a huge help. If you need to contact me, please feel free to PM me about any old thing your heart desires. Always note the Round to which your correspondence refers.


So, what exactly do I send?

There has been a lot of questions about the 'quality' of prints. So here's some basic ideas.

• Make the best print you can. It does not have to be museum quality, but there shouldn't be spilled coffee on it either!
• Mounting/matting your print is optional.
• Say something about your print. I'd encourage everyone to add a note, especially if you are a newbie that is looking for some feedback, with some basic information about the print such as the following . . .
  
  • Camera
  • Film
  • Exposure settings
  • Location
  • Paper
  • Developer
  • Development times
  • Other pertinent info
• B&W or Colour? Fiber Based or Resin Coated? 4x6 or 16x20? Your choice.
• Polaroid transfers, Polaroid emulsion transfers, PT/PD prints, Ilfochromes, etc... are all acceptable. Even contact prints made from the hybrid method (film-->PC-->acetate-->paper) is acceptable.
• Lambda or Lightjet prints of reversal film is fine for those who lack the capacity to print Ilfochromes. Please make certain you state these processes if used.
• Generally, a decent 8x10 or larger is the norm. Send whatever you feel like printing to get your vision across. If your neg looks best as a 4x4 inch square print or as a 24x36 inch print, just do it and have fun.

PACKAGING

Here are some known methods that people have been sending their prints:

1. flat, sandwiched in between two stiff cardboards, in a flat cardboard mailer or a soft bubble wrap mailer <--very good for unmounted prints, OK for mounted prints
2. flat, loose with popcorn, bubble wrap, newspaper or other soft materail in a cardboard box mailer <--good for mounted prints
3. rolled in a cardboard tube <--very not good for mounted prints
4. hand delivered <--now that's dedication!

OTHER SIDE NOTES

• Please be prepared, if you want to participate, to mail your print internationally since you may get someone overseas.
• Note that for customs purposes, value your print under $10 USD or 10 EUR when sending a print overseas to reduce holdup in customs.
• For those of you in the US that want to send your prints via Priorty Mail, you can get free cardboard boxes from USPS at your post office or online at http://www.usps.gov. If you order them online, you'll need to order 25 mininum of each size and it takes about a week or so have it delivered to your address.
• IMPORTANT. If you cannot honor your commitment and have already received your print, please send the print you received to the person to whom you were supposed to send your print. Please notify the organizer immediately. If you have NOT received your print yet, please contact the organizer ASAP so that a correction can be forwarded, if possible.
• Please do not signup if you still have past Blind Print Exchange commitments you still need to honor. Complete them first then feel free to sign up for subsequent rounds.
• Make certain you have the correct address on your mode of shipping. Triple check it. I would rather be deluged with PMs than need to have someone reprint and pay postage a second time.
• And last but not least. This is a member organized function. There is no one 'legally' responsible for anything, unless Jason Brunner signs up and sends bacon through the post (again?). Might be some health issues there. If a problem arises, please contact me first. We can generally figure these things out and we'll go from there.

Disclaimers. Well, my legal department is non-existant so there aren't any. Just have fun. Please realize that there is a remote possibility that you may not receive a print. Your sender might have to move and will have no darkroom for a year or more. They may, for personal reasons put up their cameras and gear for sale. In the past, members have sent additional prints to those who have not received a print. This will not always be the case. Just so you realize that it a possibility.

Thank you.
Harry Pulley
APUG Blind Print Exchange Organizer

PLEASE USE THIS THREAD TO POST GENERAL QUESTIONS SO THAT OTHERS MAY BENEFIT FROM THIS FAQ2B.

[markbarendt]

Just signed up, sounds fun.

Thanks for arranging this Harry.

[puptent]

I just corrected my last pm... hmmm. Anyway, I'm excited about the exchange. I have just started playing with cyanotypes, so will probably include at least one of those. And, I'm now motivated to repair the 23C! Thanks for the time and effort you're putting in!!!

[hpulley]

Cyanotypes are welcome here. Thanks for asking and participating.

[megzdad81]

On the posting requirement, I assume you mean anywhere on the APUG site (except maybe WTB and FS).

I've only just joined the organization--work just keeps getting in the way, and I've only just 'finished' my darkroom.

[hpulley]

On the posting requirement, I assume you mean anywhere on the APUG site (except maybe WTB and FS).

I've only just joined the organization--work just keeps getting in the way, and I've only just 'finished' my darkroom.

The posting requirement I think is meant to be the number under your name to the left of your posts. It presently says 6 for you. So you have until January 31 to post 24 more things. Look at my number of posts, a rediculous number to be sure but if you ask a few questions, post a picture of your darkroom to the darkroom portraits thread, post what film you've shot recently to the what film you've shot recently thread, stuff like that then you can surely hit 30 posts in no time! Post some entries to the deleted thread and you could be at 30 today